This really sucks for the Nuggets. Hopefully, it won't be too bad. http://www.denverpost.com/Stories/0,1002,90%7E172553,00.html Injury shelves McDyess Knee problematic By Marc J. Spears Denver Post Sports Writer Sunday, October 07, 2001 - Denver Nuggets all-star forward Antonio McDyess is out indefinitely with an injury to his left knee that might require surgery and sideline him for two months or longer. "We don't know, and I don't want to put any dates on it," Nuggets general manager Kiki Vandeweghe said of McDyess' return. "But it could be a much shorter time, and it could be up to a couple months. We're obviously hoping for the shorter time." McDyess missed seven of the final eight games last season with an injury to his left kneecap. The 6-foot-9, 245-pounder began feeling pain related to tendinitis in his left knee at Thursday morning's practice, and has not been able to practice since. Magnetic imaging tests showed a partial tear in his left patella tendon along with a mild sprain of the medial collateral ligament. "We don't know if it needs surgery or not," coach Dan Issel said. "We're still in the evaluation process. If he is going to miss some time, then guys that are here are going to have to make up for it. It will be tough. There is no sense getting down or getting discouraged. We just have to move on." McDyess could not be reached for comment. Nuggets team doctor Steve Traina and trainer Jim Gillen would not comment. McDyess, 27, averaged 20.8 points and a career-high 12.1 rebounds last season, making his first all-star appearance. McDyess said last week that the Nuggets' lack of veteran frontcourt depth could be the team's biggest problem. Without McDyess, Issel said starting center Raef LaFrentz will likely move to power forward while veteran Kevin Willis will start at center. The frontline reserves include such unproven players as 7-foot-3 center Aleksandar Radojevic, forward Zendon Hamilton and rookie center Batere Menk. LaFrentz averaged 12.9 points, 7.8 rebounds and 2.6 blocks per game last season. Willis averaged 14.8 points and 11.0 rebounds per game in nine games as a starter with Toronto before being traded to Denver on Jan. 12. "We're already thin up front," said LaFrentz, whose Nuggets will play an intrasquad scrimmage at 6 p.m. tonight at the Coors Events Center in Boulder. "Losing Antonio, an all-star - that's a heck of a blow to start the season. It's up to the rest of us to try to hold it together the best we can. "Hopefully, he will breeze through the rehab, have no problems, and be back as soon as possible," LaFrentz said. Issel said the best option to find frontcourt help could be through a trade. "We were looking for additional big people before this situation came up," Issel said. "We'll continue to look. If nothing happens, we'll have to go with the people we have and do the best we can." Said Vandeweghe, "You don't want to sacrifice your long range goals for an immediate quick fix." Several players said they had talked to McDyess and were under the impression he'll have surgery and be out until January or later. But Nuggets officials said a timeline and recovery decision has yet to be made. Vandeweghe likened McDyess' injury to one Miami center Alonzo Mourning sustained in 1998, when he missed 22 games. "This is a good time for him to make sure they can take care of what the problem is," Nuggets guard Avery Johnson said. "You don't want a franchise player like that to have lingering injuries his whole career. "Let's go and take care of the problem, whatever it may be, get him back healthy again," Avery said. "He's a guy we need to anchor our franchise the next five or six years."
Man I hope he's ok. I remember how depressed this board got a month or so ago when Mo got injured, and McDyess means more to them then Mo did to us, so hopefully he'll get healthy soon.
hottoddie, rocksmillenium: thanks guys. preciate that. even though you guys are lucky you dont have to face him at least twice roxran: is it the start because this injury is so hard to come back from? crisco: we lose mcdyess, so the best thing to do is give away raef? yeah...OK!
hey, you knew the offer was coming. Might as well nip it in the bud I never understood why the Nugs never picked up a decent backup for McDyess. Plenty of swingmen, plenty of pgs, 2 good young post players, one ancient post player who still plays decent... It would seem as though the nugs would go after another decent post player just in case one of them goes down ... but no, they go after more swingmen and more pgs. If Denver has any exception money left, Gattling would be a decent pick-up.
Hey NugzFan, Here's an idea to solve your big man situation. Golden State wants to drop some salary & has reportedly been open to moving Dampier/Fortson & the Nuggets need another big man. This trade works. Denver sends Cheaney/Lenard to GS in exchange for Dampier. You give up a little over $6 mill in expiring contracts, but you get a legitimate center in the deal. Would you do it?
Or, how about this one? Denver sends Lenard to GS. Golden State sends Foyle/Porter to Denver. Denver gets a shot blocking machine(not much offense though) & a promising young SF with an expiring contract. Golden State drops $4.865 mill in salary at the end of the year.
well we do have willis. we had a solid 3 man rotation but not much else. the reason we got so many good 2/3s is that those were who were available and thats who we could get. we were looking to trade some for a big man but no luck yet. still looking. i dont think well see gatling back in denver.
i dunno - damp is big but he sucks. i dont think our owner would because of the contract. id rather trade cook/lenard or cheaney for skinner (TOR), fundeburke (SAC), ruffin (CHI), massenburg (VAN), blount (BOS), or rooks (LAC). someone big and ok but cheap.
According to RealGM, he's got 3 years at $4.4 mill each remaining. He'd help you out for the 2-3 months that McDyess is out & then you'd have that extra front court depth when McDyess comes back. And, you could also resign Porter for depth at the SF position or let him walk.
Aren't the Rockets interested with Mcdyess? They should be. He's an all-star player. Yes he's injured right now. But this should be a chance for both the Nuggets and Rockets to talk about some possibilities. How about Mobley, Taylor, Langhi, and Morris for Mcdyess? Damon Jones and Oscar Torres can play the minutes of Mobley.
1 - was there any doubt i would reply to this trade idea? 2 - is there any doubt as to what i would say in reply to this trade idea? heres a hint... it starts with lo ends in !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!! it has an l in the middle
This explains why you didnt do this when it was suggested in the bait thread....I knew you wouldnt like that deal!! For once, we agree. As much as I respect Mcdyess, I dont want to lose the players they are talkin about trading. Especially the bit about losing Mobes and Lanky!
